[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E9-E10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         REDECLARE THE DRUG WAR

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, we cannot solve the crime and violence 
problems which plague this country without an all-out war on drugs. 
Make no mistake about it. This Republican-controlled Congress will pay 
a major role in the war on drugs. We'll step up to the plate and assume 
our full share of responsibility. But so must the administration. Our 
first, joint priority must be to restore control over the places where 
Americans live and raise their children.
  As a consequence of the Clinton administration's half-hearted effort 
to fight the drug war we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use 
of drugs. Unless the problem is returned to the front burner one of the 
few enduring legacies of the Clinton Presidency may be the reemergence 
of illegal drugs and the violent crime associated with drugs.
  The American people understand that we cannot solve the crime and 
violence problem which plagues this country, without an all-out effort 
to resolve the drug problem. The root cause of violence and crime in 
this country is 
[[Page E10]] illegal drugs. Look at the facts. According to the 
Partnership for a Drug-Free America:
  Drug use is related to half of all violent crime.
  Illegal drugs play a part in half of all homicides. In fact, 48 
percent of all men arrested for homicide test positive for illicit 
drugs at the time of arrest.
  Over 60 percent of prison inmates are there for drug related crimes.
  Illegal drug use is a factor in half of all family violence. Most of 
this violence is directed against women.
  Over 30 percent of all child abuse cases involve a parent using 
illegal drugs.
  The number of drug-exposed babies now accounts for 11 percent of all 
births in the United States.
  Over 75 percent of adolescent deaths are a result of drug related 
violence.
  An important first step in curbing drug demand in this country is to 
make the so-called casual users and hard core users accountable. The 
best method to accomplish this involves testing in the workplace. By 
requiring the testing of all Government employees and officials we can 
set the standard for the private sector. The bill being introduced 
today was drafted by constitutional scholars in response to possible 
court challenges.
  The findings provision states that the sale, possession and use of 
drugs pose a pervasive and substantial threat to the social, 
educational, and economic health of the United States. The impact of 
drug abuse if reflected in the violence that it causes and in the 
disintegration of families, schools, and neighborhoods. The effects of 
rampant drug use is amply illustrated by national violent crime 
statistics across the United States. And recent studies demonstrate 
that drug use by young people is on the rise.
  The legislation introduced today is a starting point of the action 
this Congress must take to turn around the war on drugs, including:
  A bill to require random drug testing of all executive, judicial, and 
legislative branch Government employees and officials.
  A bill to deny Federal benefits upon conviction of certain drug 
offenses.
  A bill to ensure quality assurance of drug testing programs.
  A bill to require employer notification for certain drug crimes.
  A bill to require mandatory drug testing for all Federal job 
applicants.
  A bill to provide the death penalty for drug kingpins.
  A bill to prohibit federally sponsored research involving the 
legalization of drugs.
  A bill to deny higher education assistance to individuals convicted 
of using or selling illegal drugs.
  These bills will increase user accountability. It is imperative that 
we put tough new laws on the books to hold both casual and heavy drug 
users accountable. These new laws will establish that involvement with 
illegal drugs has clear consequences. We must increase the social and 
legal costs of illegal drug consumption.
  Mr. Speaker, I would conclude by quoting the chairman of the 
Partnership for a Drug Free America, Mr. James Burke, ``We cannot and 
will not make progress with crime, violence or other ills until we make 
a long-term commitment to addressing a common denominator in so many of 
these problems--drug abuse.''


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